WWF partners with local battery company

Uniross Batteries, the rechargeable battery specialist, is the first battery company to partner with The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF.)

“WWF partners with environmentally-responsible businesses in an effort to encourage and promote responsible and sustainable activities,” said Michael Rogers, MD of Uniross. “WWF has chosen to enter into this partnership because of Uniross’ on-going environmentally-responsible approach to business.”

Based on international research, Uniross specialises in the production of eco-friendly rechargeable batteries, which are proven to be 32 times better for the environment than ordinary ‘single-use’ batteries.

“This fact certainly played an important roll in WWF’s decision to partner with us,” said Mr Rogers, “but was not the only factor.”

In addition to their eco-friendly products, Uniross launched the first South African battery recycling programme, back in 2008. In conjunction with Pick n Pay, Uniross rolled out a battery recycling programme enabling consumers to return their old batteries for recycling at any of the Pick n Pay stores countrywide. This programme is still active in all Pick n Pay stores today.

In 2008, Uniross was also the first South African battery company to voluntarily cease manufacturing with Cadmium, an extremely harmful chemical.

“WWF and Uniross have entered into this partnership in an effort to educate South Africans about the environmental benefits of using rechargeable batteries. The goal is to educate and encourage consumers to start using rechargeable batteries instead of ‘single-use’ batteries,” said Mr Rogers.

The agreement will see a percentage of Uniross sales going toward WWF South Africa to further support their environmental initiatives and conservation work. In reciprocation of this support, the agreement entitles Uniross to co-brand their products and marketing materials with the internationally recognisable WWF trademark.

It is estimated that South Africa disposes of about 50-million environmentally-harmful ‘single-use’ batteries each year. These batteries ultimately end up in our rubbish dumps where they eventually break down, leaking chemicals into soil and ground water. Because rechargeable batteries are capable of being recharged and re-used up to 500 times, South Africans could reduce this enormous battery pollution from 50-million to a fraction of this number each year – an enormous benefit to our environment.

Facts

One ‘single-use’ AAA battery can pollute 500 litres of water and 1 cubic metre of land for 50 years

South Africa throws away 50-million batteries per year

One rechargeable battery will replace up to 500 single-use batteries

Research shows that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on the environment than disposable batteries; 28 times less potential on global warming; 30 times less potential impact on air pollution; nine times less potential on air acidification and 12 times less potential impact on water pollution.